Laser championships in Bass Strait this weekend

The Tasmanian District Laser Association State Championships 2018 will be held at the Mersey Yacht Club over this long weekend, with a strong representation from the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

With the racing area out in Bass Strait off Devonport, this is a wonderful opportunity for sailors to experience offshore dinghy racing.

Sailing in these waters for the Tasmanian championship will enable sailors to gain valuable experience for the upcoming 2019 Oceania and Australian Laser Championships which are also to be held at Mersey Yacht Club in January, 2019.

Lasers heading down the Mersey River for training offshore.

Eight races are planned over the weekend and the forecast 6 to 12 knot winds should provide plenty of competitive racing. Sailing is planned to start at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday and 10.00 a.m. on Sunday and Monday.

With up to 30 entries expected, representing the Standard, Radial and 4.7 classes the fleet should provide a great spectacle. Racing will be in the vicinity of Mersey Bluff, providing a great viewing area from the shore.

Competitors to watch in the Laser Radial include Casey Imenio from Victoria taking on local Adele Auchterlonie, whilst Max Gluskie and Will Sargent from the RYCT have a score to settle after last week’s Youth championships in which they finished on equal points.

Mersey Yacht Club at Devonport…hosting Laser states this weekend.

In the 4.7 class Abbey Calvert and Matilda O’Donoghue will continue their rivalry from the youth championships.

Current Laser Radial champion Sam King will be stepping up to the full rig as he transitions out of the youth category. Also pleasing is the return to the Lasers of Josh Ragg and Ryan Moreton after worlds campaigns in other classes.